Claims for jobless aid rose last weekWASHINGTON — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose last week to the highest level since February 2015, more sobering news for the labor market after a disappointing April jobs report.The Labor Department reported Thursday that applications for jobless aid rose by 20,000 to a seasonally adjusted 294,000. The four-week average, a less volatile measure, rose by 10,250 to 268,250, the highest in nearly three months.

Chain raises stakes in Amazon battleNEW YORK — Walmart is trimming its free-shipping pilot program to two days from three, and it’s cutting its membership pricedown to $49 per year.The Bentonville, Ark., company began testing the new service last year in answer to Amazon Prime’s two-day shipping, a big part of its domination of the retail sector.Amazon membership costs $99 a year.